Annual OT Reunion Weekend June 2019 Chess Tournament Report by Stephen Corns (1962), Hon. Secretary of OT Committee This year the OT weekend started very differently. On the Friday evening, a chess tournament was held in the School library, arranged by former OT President Andrew Wynne. The principal player was OT David Anderton OBE (1958) who was England team captain for 20 years and three times British Senior Chess Champion. David kindly agreed to take on ‘all comers’ and during 2½ hours he played seventeen different games against pupils and OTs, moving from table to table. His opponents (aged from 5 years old to 74) all succumbed eventually, except for one – OT Vic Brown (1962) who managed a very creditable draw. We thank David for an excellent evening of deep thought and tension. We are pleased that he will consider a repeat tournament next year. “I could see I was in trouble towards the end but I wasn’t going to resign. I’m ready for a rematch.” Amrit, aged 5 Sports Teams Remain Impressive In recent years, we have acquired the ‘magic touch’ selecting just the right weekend for the weather. With rainstorms galore earlier in the month, I feared the worst, but come the day the clouds disappeared and the sun shone brightly. The netball was staged on the MUGA pitch at the rear of the Prep School on Saturday. The contest ebbed first one way and then the other but finally the OTs sneaked home by 24 – 22, so quite a nail-biter. The football match kicked-off under the watchful eye of referee James Bullock. The OTs scored first but later in the first half conceded an own goal – so it was evenly poised 1 – 1 at half time. I had to leave at this stage in order to prepare the barbecue bar so I was surprised to hear later that the match ended with the School 4 – 1 winners! I believe this is the first time the School has won the John Dale Trophy which was introduced about five years ago. Head Boy, Jack Pritchard, was presented with the cup by OT President Peter Bodkin. 73
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